Undergraduate Course

Integrated Master in Science: Sports and Exercise Science

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Overview

The details

Course: Sports and Exercise Science

UCAS code: C699

Start date: October 2023

Study mode: Full-time

Maximum duration: 4 years

Location: Colchester Campus

Based in: Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (School of)

How can athletes optimise their training and performance? How can individuals and communities improve their physical activity, health and wellbeing? Our inter-disciplinary team of scientists and practitioners will help you understand the role of physiology, psychology, biomechanics and nutrition in sport and exercise science.

On our MSci Sport and Exercise Science (Integrated Masters) course, you develop the same key skills as on our BSc Sport and Exercise Science course. These skills include:

How and why different energy systems are deployed at different exercise intensities
Biomechanical principles behind acute and chronic sporting injuries, and how these can be applied to prevent injuries
The role of ergogenic aids in improving athletic performance
How physical activity and nutrition can reduce the risk of cardio-metabolic disease
The design and implementation of psychological skills training programmes

In addition, you achieve a Masters-level qualification and have the opportunity to investigate more advanced topics in sport and exercise science, specialising in one of the areas of research being undertaken within our School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, such as:

The analysis of movement
How extreme environments can affect human performance
Paediatric exercise science
Sport psychology

Our course allows you to gain practical hands-on experience in our specialist laboratory facilities, as well as learning the theoretical approaches. Alongside lectures, seminars, tutorials, and laboratory sessions, there are a range of online resources to support your learning.

The first two years provide you with the professional and scientific skills needed to conduct independent research projects in your final years. You also have the opportunity to work with our Human Performance Unit, which applies the latest science to analyse performance and help top athletes stay at the top of their game.

As such, the course provides you with the knowledge and experience of working with different client groups, and helps prepare you for a fulfilling career in a range of industries, especially sport, health and education.

Sport scholarships

Our Performance Sport Scholarship programme has been created for talented athletes playing at regional, national or international level, and offers a range of benefits. We want students competing in our focus sports (basketball, volleyball, tennis, football and rugby 7s), as well as other team sports and individual athletes, to contribute to our performance sport programme. Our scholarships can include fee discounts of up to 100%, offered to athletes who demonstrate sporting excellence. Athletes who are awarded the scholarship will receive a host of other benefits, including free kit, access to state-of-the-art facilities, performance coaching, the option to live in our Athlete Village (accommodation fees may vary) and a support package valued up to £1,500. These benefits are designed to help athletes focus on their training, and development, and to enable them to reach their full potential alongside their studies.

Why we're great.

Gain in-depth knowledge by using our cutting-edge advanced research equipment.
We’re 27th in the UK for Sports Science in the Guardian University Guide 2024.
92% of our School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences graduates are in employment or further study (Graduate Outcomes 2023).

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The five-year version of our degree allows you to spend a year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the four-year Integrated Masters course.

Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.

If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university.

Placement year

Alternatively, you can undertake a placement year with an external organisation. This is usually focussed around your course, and enables you to learn about a particular sector, company or job role, apply your academic knowledge in a practical working environment, and receive inspiration for future career pathways.

Our expert staff

We offer a lively, friendly and supportive environment with research-led study and high quality teaching. We are 23rd in UK for research power in sport and exercise sciences (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021) - you learn from and work alongside our expert staff.

Our research covers a wide spectrum of sport and exercise science. Key academic staff for include Dr Valerie Gladwell, who is researching the autonomic nervous system in exercise bouts, Dr Jo Barton, who is leading the way in the specialist area of green exercise, Dr Paul Freeman, who works on social support in sports, Dr Matthew Taylor, who is a leading expert in a wide variety of research interests from exergaming to aging and gait analysis, and Dr Gavin Sandercock, who works on geographical and social interactions with exercise.

The University of Essex has a Women's Network to support female staff and students and was awarded the Athena Swan Institutional Bronze Award in recognition of its continuing work to support women in STEM.

Specialist facilities

Our specialist facilities include our Sport Arena, physiotherapy labs, six specialist sport and physiology labs, two dedicated sports therapy training labs, and an on-campus sports therapy clinic.

Work in an open and friendly department, with shared staff-student social spaces
Gain valuable experience working with elite athletes in our Human Performance Unit
State-of-the-art research facilities, from state of the art treadmills, to 7-camera biomechanics systems, to gas and blood analysis systems
Teaching facilities including new undergraduate laboratories

Human Performance Unit

The Human Performance Unit (HPU) has been used by professional athletes and sports persons from a range of disciplines, including Team GB athletes participating in the London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and players from our local Colchester United Football Club.

The HPU supports student teaching and research across all degree types. Our undergraduates in sports therapy, sports performance and coaching, and sports and exercise science use the HPU for some of their modules, with both beginners and professional sports persons recruited to take part. This gives students experience in managing the practical physiological tests, as well helping them develop soft skills such as communication and teamwork.

Additionally the HPU supports a range of placement activities. Our Masters students can take a 12-week placement, while undergraduates have the option to use the HPU during our optional Placement Year. Along with continuing the work with individual athletes, students who have a placement year as part of their course also assist with sports science workshops held at the HPU for local schools. These workshops are tailored to the National Curriculum for PE, and give our students experience of working with teachers and young people.

Find out more about the services the HPU offers.

Your future

The sport, fitness, health and leisure sectors are booming and provide a variety of careers for sports and exercise science graduates.

Typical career destinations include sports performance, sports management and sports development, health care, teaching, the health and fitness industry and academic research. Our courses develop your skills in numeracy, information technology, communication and time management, which are important to all employers.

Our recent graduates have taken up a wide range of roles, including:

Senior fitness instruction and personal training
Coaches and performance analysts for football clubs including Southend United, West Ham United, Dagenham and Redbridge FC, and Derby County, and for rugby clubs including Colchester RFC
Health and safety executive for HM Inspector of Health and Safety
Essex netball development officer for England Netball
Girls’ and women’s football development officer for a local council
Health improvement facilitator for a primary care trust

Other graduates now work in the fields of sports performance, sports management and sports development, health care, teaching, and the health and fitness industry. Many also undertake research study.

We also work with our University's Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.

Entry requirements

Clearing entry requirements

We currently have places available in Clearing across a range of our courses, with many of our courses available with a foundation year. We consider each application individually but as clearing entry requirements may change throughout the day as our places fill, we would recommend getting in touch with us as soon as you can to see if we can make you an offer.

If you are interested in applying and have already received your results, use our Clearing application form to apply for 2023 entry and find out if you are eligible. You will be asked to provide details of your qualifications and grades.

Structure

Course structure

We offer a flexible course structure with a mixture of core/compulsory modules, and optional modules chosen from lists.

Our research-led teaching is continually evolving to address the latest challenges and breakthroughs in the field. The course content is therefore reviewed on an annual basis to ensure our courses remain up-to-date so modules listed are subject to change.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Components and modules explained

Components

Components are the blocks of study that make up your course. A component may have a set module which you must study, or a number of modules from which you can choose.

Each component has a status and carries a certain number of credits towards your qualification.

Status	What this means
Core	You must take the set module for this component and you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component but you must pass. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory	You must take the set module for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Compulsory with Options	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.
Optional	You can choose which module to study from the available options for this component. There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the qualification if you fail.

The modules that are available for you to choose for each component will depend on several factors, including which modules you have chosen for other components, which modules you have completed in previous years of your course, and which term the module is taught in.

Modules

Modules are the individual units of study for your course. Each module has its own set of learning outcomes and assessment criteria and also carries a certain number of credits.

In most cases you will study one module per component, but in some cases you may need to study more than one module. For example, a 30-credit component may comprise of either one 30-credit module, or two 15-credit modules, depending on the options available.

Modules may be taught at different times of the year and by a different department or school to the one your course is primarily based in. You can find this information from the module code. For example, the module code HR100-4-FY means:

100

The department or school the module will be taught by.

In this example, the module would be taught by the Department of History.

The module number.

The UK academic level of the module.

A standard undergraduate course will comprise of level 4, 5 and 6 modules - increasing as you progress through the course.

A standard postgraduate taught course will comprise of level 7 modules.

A postgraduate research degree is a level 8 qualification.

The term the module will be taught in.

AU: Autumn term
SP: Spring term
SU: Summer term
FY: Full year
AP: Autumn and Spring terms
PS: Spring and Summer terms
AS: Autumn and Summer terms

COMPONENT 01: C

Professional Skills and Development 1

(30 CREDITS)

The aim of this module is to develop your academic, scientific and professional abilities relevant to the study of and professions related to sport, rehabilitation and exercise sciences. There are four key focuses of this module: professional skills; research design and ethics; data analysis, presentation and interpretation; and employability.

View Professional Skills and Development 1 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: C

Introduction to Sports and Exercise Science

(15 CREDITS)

Understanding performance in sport requires knowledge of the basic scientific principles of chemistry, biology and physics, alongside a foundation of maths. This module will help develop understanding of the human body at both cellular and gross level. Students will consider performance can be influenced by exercise training and how these changes can be assessed. As this is a broad based module, we will also explore population health, basic nutrition and recovery. Students will apply theoretical knowledge to real sporting examples including training and fitness testing.

View Introduction to Sports and Exercise Science on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: C

Biomechanics

(15 CREDITS)

This module will help you to understand the physical and mechanical principles that determine how we, and the objects with which we interact during exercise and in sporting events, move. You will learn the meaning of concepts such as force, mass, speed, velocity, acceleration, momentum and we will explore how they enable us to describe and understand movement in sport and exercise.

View Biomechanics on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: C

Sport and Exercise Psychology

(15 CREDITS)

Is it all in the mind? The margin between victory and defeat is thin, but can an athlete’s psychology really give them an edge? Why do some people find exercise difficult and other find exercise essential? Understanding how involvement in sport, exercise and physical activity affects a person's health and wellbeing is important in creating better interventions. The aim of this module is to introduce you to the fundamental principles underpinning the psychology of sport and exercise.

View Sport and Exercise Psychology on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: C

Principles of Nutrition and Metabolism

(15 CREDITS)

Students will gain a basic knowledge of nutrition and metabolism underpinning Sports Science. On completion of the module, students will be able to describe the flow of nutrient intake and energy production supporting not only training and performance but optimal health. This module will give students a firm foundation from which to study exercise physiology and the specific nutritional requirements of athletes including legal and illegal substances, in later modules.

View Principles of Nutrition and Metabolism on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 06: C

Anatomy and Physiology

(30 CREDITS)

This module will provide you with knowledge on the fundamental concepts of human anatomy and physiology which underpins the biological sciences. You will gain knowledge of the mechanisms associated with the control and regulation of the major systems of the body. The content will give you a foundation for more advanced study of Exercise Physiology or Applied Biomedicine. Furthermore, this module explore the individual systems involved in maintaining our bodies’ internal environments – respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary and immune. Examine how each system’s organ structures inform function, how they work together as a whole, and the ways they maintain homeostasis under the stresses of exercise and disease.

View Anatomy and Physiology on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 01: C

Professional Skills 2

(15 CREDITS)

Your biggest competition to date: the graduate job market. This module gives you a crucial head-start, ensuring you can both practically apply and effectively communicate your skills to the real-world and future employers.<br><br>During the Sports Science summer school you will identify and consequently investigate a chosen research question, working as part of a team to process, evaluate and analyse data. You will also have chance to prepare for life beyond graduation, developing a written strategy for optimising your employability, updating your skills e-portfolio and CV, and examining the job application process in detail.

View Professional Skills 2 on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: C

Exercise Physiology

(15 CREDITS)

How do our bodies respond and adapt to an exercise bout and prolonged training? You will review the structure and function of the muscular, cardiovascular and pulmonary systems, assessing how they respond to physical strain, and how they contribute to the limitations of human performance. You also consider how the nervous and endocrine systems adapt and help to control the responses to acute exercise and training.

View Exercise Physiology on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: C

Applied Movement Science

(15 CREDITS)

Optimal performance in sports and health requires two things: the ability to optimize performance without compromising injury risk. This module will provide you with a very practical toolbox towards designing the appropriate exercise programs for your clients. This module will cover topics ranging from the biomechanical basis of optimizing core stability for health and performance, neuromuscular adaptations to pain and injuries, neuromuscular basis for exercise selection, overuse and acute injury mechanisms, to understanding the mechanical limits of athletic behaviours. In a practical, you will collect your own data and perform scientific experiments to understand and characterise the effect of footwear in the context of injury prevention. Lessons will be a mixture of lectures and hands-on session, where students get taught on how to instruct the optimal performance of different exercises to ensure maximum benefit to health and function.

View Applied Movement Science on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 04: C

Research Methods in Sport and Exercise

(15 CREDITS)

This module will build upon your knowledge and skills to understand, appraise and plan research in sport and exercise. You will develop your understanding of different methodologies, research designs, and data analytical techniques, including their strengths, limitations and applications. You will develop your skills in using library and online resources for scientific research, and your ability to critically appraise published work and how it can be used to inform applied practice in sport and exercise. You will also gain practical experience in participating in research, planning your own study, and analysing and interpreting data. Overall, the module will equip you with knowledge and skills required for your final year research project.

View Research Methods in Sport and Exercise on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 05: H

(15 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 06: N

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 07: N

(15 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 01: C

Research Project

(45 CREDITS)

In this module you will conduct an individual scientific investigation on a topic relating to your degree specialisation. You will either use the skills you have developed to identify a suitable research question and design an experimental approach to obtain data addressing this question, or use your research skills to better understand an existing project/ dataset. This module evaluates your analysis, presentation, understanding and interpretation of these data in a suitable scientific paper format report along with your critical writing skills. Your oral presentation skills and response to questions, the planning and management of your project work and your employability skills will also be part of the assessment.

View Research Project on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: C

Issues in Sport and Exercise Science

(15 CREDITS)

Examine contemporary issues in the science of sport and exercise, and their implications on the health and performance of individuals, groups, or society. You have the opportunity to examine selected issues in depth from a range of options, engage with cutting-edge research, develop informed opinions on the topics, and to present information in different formats.

View Issues in Sport and Exercise Science on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: N

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 04: N

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 01: C

Further Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health

(30 CREDITS)

This module will focus on the fundamental assumptions underlying quantitative research, including; research design methods, sampling, and the validity and reliability of measurements in exercise science. Students will master the techniques needed to critically appraise published research and carry out a piece of original research.

View Further Research Methods in Sport, Exercise and Health on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 02: C

Literature Review

(30 CREDITS)

The module will develop skills in reviewing and critically appraising academic text. Students are required to write a literature review which should focus on a contemporary issue in sport and exercise science. The process involves searching for, obtaining and understanding the literature and the critical skills required to analyse and synthesise the material into a literature review.

View Literature Review on our Module Directory

COMPONENT 03: N

(30 CREDITS)

COMPONENT 04: N

(30 CREDITS)

Placement

On a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business or organisation, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry.

Year abroad

On your year abroad, you have the opportunity to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised.

Teaching

Practical work in your first two years
Learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, laboratory and other practical sessions, and coursework
Gain experience collating and interpreting data, and reporting findings clearly and concisely

Assessment

Degrees are awarded on the results of your written examinations together with continual assessments of your practical work and coursework, through essays, verbal/visual presentations and written reviews
Contribute towards real-world research projects

Fees and funding

Home/UK fee

£9,250 per year

International fee

£19,530 per year

Fees will increase for each academic year of study.

Home/UK fees and funding information

International fees and funding information

What's next

Our events are a great way to find out more about studying at Essex. We run a number of Open Days throughout the year which enable you to discover what our campus has to offer. You have the chance to:

tour our campus and accommodation
find out answers to your questions about our courses, student finance, graduate employability, student support and more
meet our students and staff

Check out our Visit Us pages to find out more information about booking onto one of our events. And if the dates aren’t suitable for you, feel free to book a campus tour here.

2023 Open Days (Colchester Campus)

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Find out more

How to apply during Clearing

Once you’ve checked that we have the right course for you, applying couldn’t be simpler. Fill in our quick and easy Clearing application form with as much detail as you can. We’ll then take a look and get back to you with a decision.

Find out more about Clearing
Get to know us better at our Clearing events

Interviews

We don’t interview all applicants during Clearing, however, we will only make offers for the following courses after a successful interview:

BA Multimedia Journalism
BSc Nursing (Adult)
BSc Nursing (Mental Health)
BA Social Work

The interview allows our academics to find out more about you, and in turn you’ll be able to ask us any questions you might have. Further details will be emailed to you if you are shortlisted for interview.

Apply now

Home to 15,000 students from more than 130 countries, our Colchester Campus is the largest of our three sites, making us one of the most internationally diverse campuses on the planet - we like to think of ourselves as the world in one place.

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If you live too far away to come to Essex (or have a busy lifestyle), no problem. Our 360 degree virtual tours allows you to explore our University from the comfort of your home. Check out our Colchester virtual tour and Southend virtual tour to see accommodation options, facilities and social spaces.

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The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include, but are not limited to: strikes, other industrial action, staff illness, severe weather, fire, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack (whether declared or not), natural disaster, restrictions imposed by government or public authorities, epidemic or pandemic disease, failure of public utilities or transport systems or the withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications. The University would inform and engage with you if your course was to be discontinued, and would provide you with options, where appropriate, in line with our Compensation and Refund Policy.

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